Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2 min read | 12:28 pm CAT

A bus carrying nearly fifty people displaced by the catastrophic floods in Pakistan caught fire, killing at least 18 of them, including eight children and nine women.

The passengers were all members of an extended family who were forced to shift to Karachi after the floods submerged their homes in a district of the Sindh province.

The incident is quite tragic. However, Pakistan faces an enormous tragedy that needs to be addressed collectively.

Thirty-three million people have been displaced by the catastrophic flooding that Pakistan has seen. This follows a health crisis leaving children without nutrition or clean drinking water.

In an interview with Radio Islam International, the Director of governance and policy at WWF Pakistan, Imran Saqib Khalid, said evidence shows the flooding is primarily due to climate change.

According to Khalid, the displaced and the communities hosting the displaced population are now facing the challenge.

“There is a housing crisis in the country which is now adding stress to the food security, water needs including the health facilities,” he says.

According to Khalid, The National Disaster Management Authority and the military have gotten involved in rescuing people and facilitating them. There has been an international response whereby some countries have started to send monies.

He said there are also people in Pakistan who are contributing to the course.

“That has alleviated the concerns to a certain extent, although the scope and size of the crisis is such that even after two months since the flooding began, the waters have not receded in the Sindh province.”

He added that the government is doing its best, but unfortunately, as the Winter arrives, the concerns will rise primarily because there are millions without shelter.

Listen below to the interview with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat and Imran Saqib Khalid on Radio Islam’s podcast.